Friday is the start of over a week of live jazz here in the Flower City. For nuts like myself, it can’t get much better than this. Here are my picks for Friday, June 8th, the first evening of the Rochester International Jazz Festival. First, though, I want to try to describe the spirit in which these "picks" and those that will follow over the next days are offered.
As you can tell from reading the blog, I don’t profess to be a jazz aficionado (whatever the hell that means), nor do I have the chops to go toe-to-toe with the pros in the jazz criticism pit, but I like to think I have an open ear and I know I have a love of the music in so many of its forms. My picks are based on a complex algorithm of my musical tastes and interests, the artists I’ve heard before, the timing and sheer luck of getting in to see 3-4 shows in one night, and a number of other factors such as how much time I’ll have to get a beer between one and another location (I expect the Nordic series will be dry) and whether my wife Dianna wants to join me. I hope that if you choose to go to one of these on my recommendation that you come out pleased or challenged by the discovery you (and perhaps I) have made. To that end, I’m more interested in what you all think of these artists and their music, so feel free to comment here after the gigs to let me know what you thought. On with the picks (my times will be subject to change, so won’t be included):
Geri Allen Trio with Jimmy Cobb
I’m looking forward to hearing Geri Allen and her Trio including drummer Jimmy Cobb and, if the same as other recent gigs Ms. Allen, Daryll Hall or Rasheen Carter on bass. She appears at 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. in Kilbourn Hall. RIJF has a nice write up. Ron Netsky has also written a nice Spotlight in the City Newspaper.
Nordic Jazz Now Presents Peter Asplund Quartet
I’ve enjoyed the artists from Northern Europe that John Nugent, who also produces the Stockholm Jazz Festival, has brought to RIJF (I guess I should also mention those brought here through Tom Kohn of The Bop Shop), finding some new sounds and musicians that have since become part of my listening habits. Everyone on this year’s list is unknown to me and I’m going to try to catch as many as possible. The first gig of the Nordic Jazz Now series in the new venue of the Lutheran Church of the Reformation will be Peter Asplund and his Quartet. Check out his write up on the RIJF site.
Mike Mainieri & Steps Ahead
The vibraphonist Mike Manieri and the jazz/fusion of Steps Ahead holds the midpoint and I’ll catch him at another new venue, Harro East Ballroom; that is, if I don’t end up seeing King Solomon Burke and Raul Midon with Dianna (haven’t made that decision as of this writing). This "special edition" of Steps Ahead recently did a gig at the Iridium club in NYC if you want to check out the lineup and a quick review. Check out the page on the RIJF site.
Esperanza Spalding
I’ve been hearing some good things about bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding, a young new artist who has worked with a wide variety of artists including Joe Lovano, Charlie Haden, Regina Carter and Pat Metheny. She’s playing at Max’s at Eastman Place (which by the way is no longer called that, but I digress…) and I’d like to try to catch one of her sets. You can check out her RIJF page here. There is a short interview with her on the Bass Player site. Showing her age, you can check a video on YouTube with Ms. Spalding talking about her new album Junjo, a short clip from a concert in NYC, and a another of an interview with JazzWise Magazine.
Just Can’t Fit In…
Some others I’d like to see but just won’t work into the schedule would be Jonathan Kreisberg Trio, the gypsy jam jazz of the Stephane Wrembel Trio, and the wildness of the Shuffle Demons.
On to June 9th . . . .
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